Score keeper



A. B. BARTEAUX I SCORE KEEPER Aug. 13, 1940.

Filed Feb. 23, 1959 Patented Aug. 13, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICESCORE KEEPER Austin B. Barteaux, West New Brighton, Staten Island, N. Y.

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a game score keeper and more particularly itrefers to a device for indicating a golf score, such device beingassociated with and forming a part of one club used in playing the gameof golf.

It has been heretofore proposed to associate a score-keeping registerwith an instrument for playing a game, such as a golf club but suchdevices as known to the prior art have been no more than an indicatingmeans aflixed to said instru- I ment. One worker in this field hassuggested that a score pad be aflixed to the rear face of a golf clubhead and that a pencil be carried in a hole in the shaft. This is merely'a convenient 5 method of carrying a conventional score pad.

It has also been suggested that a rotatable collar be mounted upon thehandle end of the club. The collar of this device carries numericalindicia and an arrow on the club handle adjacent the collar indicatesthe number of strokes taken with the particular club. It is obvious thatas this club is carried in a bag the indicating device will be at thebottom of the bag hidden from sight.

I have designed a scorekeeper in combination with a club peculiarlyadapted to the golf game which may possibly be modified to adapt it foruse with other games now known or yet to be devised. Preferably, myindicator is mounted upon the shaft of a putter adjacent the headthereof and comprises a plurality of indicating devices whereby thescore of a complete game may be kept upon an implement carried duringthe game and used therein.

The advantages of such a device are many. The inconvenience of carryinga cardboard scoring sheet and a pencil throughout a golf game is wellknown to those who have played this game. The scorecard invariablybecomes crumpled, dirty and is generally in an inconvenient place at theend of each hole. Pencils of a size small enough to be convenient in useare easily lost and the points usually become broken.

It is accordingly an object of this invention to provide a scorekeepingdevice for the golf game whereby all the elements of the score may beentered on a unitary mechanism associated with one club of the seriesused during the game. The invention contemplates specifically that thescoring device shall be associated with the putter since this is theclub generally used in finishing templates a scorekeeping device capableof registering the entire score for a normal game of 18 holes.

Other objects and advantages of this invention 'will be apparent from aconsideration of the following discussion in view of the attacheddrawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a rear elevation of a golf club embodying the scorekeepingstructure of this invention;

Figure 2 is a cross-section on line 2--2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of one of the indicating rings employed;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a spacing ring; and

Figure 5 is a partial perspective view of that portion of the club shafton which the indicating members are mounted.

The preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a putter havingindicating devices on the shaft adjacent the head as illustrated inFigure 1. The shaft I is joined to a head II by riveting as indicatedgenerally at l2. For a portion of its length adjacent the head the shaftis of reduced diameter and has a plurality of indicating rings [3mounted thereabout. Each indicating ring l3 has a series of numbersstamped, engraved or otherwise marked about its periphery in sequence. Araised knurled portion I4 is provided at one edge of each ring in orderthat the ring may be readily rotated by the fingers of the user.

For reasons more fully brought out hereinafter, the rings are grouped byinterposing spacing rings l of a color contrasting with the color ofindicating rings l3 at certain intervals. At opposite ends of the regionof the shaft l0 occupied by rings 13 and IS the words out" and in"together with arrows pointing toward the said region are marked as bystamping, engraving or the like.

As shown in Figure 5 the shaft underlying the indicating rings l3 andthe spacing rings i5 is provided with a plurality of grooves IS. Aprojection I! on the inner surface of each of the rings I3 is pos tionedto engage the grooves IS. The wall of indicating ring [3 is cut to forma slot I9 for a portion of its circumference ad jacent the raisedknurled portion l4 to impart a spring action to that part of the ring onwhich the projection 11 is formed. It must be clearly understood thatthe dimensions of the grooves l6 and edges I! are preferably muchsmaller than shown here and the dimensions thereof in the drawing areexaggerated for purposes of iilustration. In that embodiment of theinvention found to be most suitable, the grooves I6 are very narrow andvery shallow and may be produced by scoring the golf club shaft in asuitable manner. Similarly the ridges I! are preferably so small thatthey may be referred to as hairllnes.

The number of grooves I6 and ridges II shown in the appended drawing arenot to be regarded as controlling of the invention. Any number ofcooperating grooves, and ridges which will give a number of positionsfor the indicating rings I3 corresponding to the number of scoringindicia about the outer surface of the said rings, will be foundsuitable. Although a single projection I1 is preferred since it may begiven a spring action by reason of the ring wall being free of theportion [4 for a portion of its length,

any number (from one to ten) of projections I I will give advantageousresults.

I prefer to mark scoring indicia about the surface of the said rings I3using the digits from 0 to 9 in order and-I therefore provide for tenpossible positions for the scoring rings. In order to obtain tenpossible positions as aforesaid, it is preferred that the interior ofthe rings I3 be provided with one ridge I1 and that the shaft be scoredor otherwise provided with ten grooves I 6. Since the primary functionof the spacing rings I5 is to give a convenient grouping of theindicating rings I3, it is relatively immaterial whether or not therings I5 are provided with ridges corresponding to the ridges I! of theindicating rings I3. If'it is desired that the rings I5 be rigidlypositioned upon the shaft I 0 the said spacing rings may be preformed ofrelatively small internal diameter and shrunk onto the shaft I0 afterheating or they may be fitted with a plurality of ridges in similarfashion to the construction of the indicating rings I3.

In constructing or assembling the score keeper of my invention, I maystart with a shaft and head designed for any type of putter but I preferto use a putter having a steel shaft. I first reduce the diameter of aportion of the putter shaft adjacent the head end thereof for a lengthsuitable to receivemy novel indicating .device. This region of reduceddiameter is then provided with grooves I6 as by scoring or any othersuitable machining technique. The word out together with an arrow may bestamped directly on the shaft above the portion of reduced diameter orit may be engraved or otherwise marked upon a collar which issubsequently fitted on the shaft and rigidly positioned with respectthereto. Thereafter the rings I5 and I3 are assembled upon the reduceddiameter portion of the shaft in a desired relation and the spacingrings I5 are rigidly fixed to the shaft as desired. Alternatively, therings I5 may fit loosely on the shaft if desired. A collar I8 having theword "in and an arrow stamped or otherwise marked thereon is now slippedover the end of the shaft and rigidly fixed thereto by any suitablemeans. Thereafter the club head is aflixed to the shaft by riveting orany other conventional method.

As noted above; the dimensions shown here are purely for purposes ofillustration and are exaggerated to a material extent. In order toenable others skilled in the art to practice the preferred embodiment ofthis invention, the approximate measurements of the various portions ofa putter which have been found to give very good results are set forthbelow.

A steel shaft designed for a putter and having a diameter ofapproximately is machined down to about along that portion of its lengthadjacent the head which is desired to carry the indicating indicia. Theindicating rings I3 are extremely thin walled and have a total widthparallel to the axis thereof of about 95 of which A" carries theindicating indicia while li is raised and knurled to provide a fingergrip. Spacing rings I5 have about the same wall thickness and are aboutin width. These latter were colored black to give a good contrast withthe light colored metal of the indicating rings I3. As has been pointedout above the grooves I6 and ridges II are of very small dimension andare difilcult to define numerically.

It will be noted that the arrows at the ends of the indicating indiciadefine a line along which lies one digit of each of the rings I3 wheneach of the said rings I3 is held in position by the cooperating ridgesI 'l and grooves I6. I have so grouped the indicating rings I3 byinterposing spacing rings I5 that provision is made for a two-digitnumber adjacent each of the ends of the indicating mechanism. The pairof indicating ringsadjacent the word out" are adapted to indicate thetotal score for the first nine holes of a normal eighteen hole game,while the pair of indicating rings adjacent the word in are intended toregister the score for the second nine holes.

Each of the nine indicating rings I3 between the two end pairs of suchrings are intended to indicate the score for one hole of a normal ninehole course.

Although my novel scoring device may be incorporated with a club of anytype normally used in a golf game, I prefer that it shall be made a partof a putter since this club usually is the last one used unless theplayer is unusually skilled and/or lucky and holes out with a shot fromthe fairway. After holing out, the player holds the putter by graspingthe shaft in the left hand with the club head hanging downward androtates the proper scoring ring I3 to a position such that a digit onsaid ring corresponding to the number of strokes taken for the hole justfinished lies along the line defined by the arrows at each end of thescoring mechanism. As each digit successively comes into the said linethe contact of ridges I1 and grooves I6 will produce a clearly audibleclick and the meshing of the said parts will be productive of adistinctly perceptible difference in the feeling of the ring I3 duringrotation. The raised knurled portion I4 of each ring I3 renders rotationof the ring very easy and the meshing of ridge II with one of thegrooves I6 positively retains the ring I3 in desired position againstshock or accidental dislocation in normal handling of the club.

During the playing of an 18 hole course the score for each of the firstnine holes, which nine hole course constitutes half of the game, will beindicated from left to right starting with the third ring I3 from theleft hand end of the scoring mechanism. Each of the nine scoring ringsI3 is grouped with two other such rings by the interposition of thespacing rings I5 thereby making it easy to determine at a glance whathole is being played or the score for any particular hole of the nine.After finishing nine holes the total of the individual scores of thesenine holes is calculated and that total is registered on the two ringsadjacent the word out.

The nine rings I 3 in the middle portion of the scoring device are thenrotated to register zero and the second nine holes are played indicatingthe score for each of the second nine in the same manner as indicatedabove.

Upon finishing the eighteen hole game, the total score for the secondnine is calculated and indicated on the two rings I 3 adjacent the wordin. The indicating device of the present invention thus provides a meansfor registering the total score of a normal eighteen hole golf game astwo separate scores, one for each of the nine hole courses making up thegame. This is the form in which most golfers desire to have their scoreavailable. It will be apparent that a greater number of rings may beprovided in order that the individual scores for each of the eighteenholes can be registered. However, it is believed that the present formis more convenient in use and suits the needs of a greater number ofgolfers.

It is well recognized by golfers that the important feature of a scoreis the individual score for each hole. Most players prefer to compare ascore hole by hole rather than on the total for a course since it isonly in this manner that faults may be evaluated and corrected. Thepresent device permits such a comparison and enables the player to usehis score to the best advantage in improving his game.

The present invention renders unnecessary the usual irritating scorecard and pencil. It makes possible the register of a score on a devicenormally in the golfers hands atthe time a hole is finished and thefinal score therefor is known.

A further advantage of this invention lies in the fact that the scoreregistered is immediately available to the player at all times by reasonof the fact that it is on that portion of one of the clubs near the topof the bag and is readily pulled out part way and oriented by turningthe club so that the face of the head is downward as the person readingthe score holds the club below his eyes and the club shaft rotates byreason of the weight of the head. While the invention contemplates theuse of the present scoring device on any club of the set normally usedby a golfer. I have found that it is much more convenient to associatethe present device with the putter for reasons noted above.

It is to be understood that the present disclosure is not exhaustive orlimiting of the invention but on the contrary is described as exemplaryof the principles and operation of a preferred embodiment thereof inorder that others skilled in the art may adapt the same to any desireduse.

I claim? 1. A score indicating device comprising a shaft and a scoreindicating ring mounted for rotation about said shaft, a plurality ofnumerical indicia successively disposed about said score indicatingring, a raised knurled portion on said ring and separated from thatportion of said ring bearing said indicia for a portion of thecircumference thereof, a ridge on the interior of said ring parallel tothe axis thereof and a plurality of grooves in said shaft parallel tosaid ridge, said ridge being on the interior of that portion of saidring, bearing said indicia which is separated from said knurled portion.

2. An indicating device comprising a shaft and said shaft, a pluralityof indicia successively disposed about said ring, a raised knurledportion on said ring and separated from that portion of said ringbearing said indicia for a portion of the circumference thereof, atleast one ridge on the interior of said ring parallel to the axisthereofand a plurality of grooves in said shaft parallel to said ridge, saidridge being on the in terior of a portion of said ring bearing saidindicia which is separated from said knurled portion.

3. An indicating device comprising a shaft and an indicating ringmounted for rotation about said shaft, said ring being of substantiallycylindrical form and having one portion thereof separated from theremainder of the ring by a circumferential opening through the wall ofsaid ring extending for a portion of the circumference thereof to afforda weakened portion of said ring capable of distortion, at least oneridge on the interior of said weakened portion parallel to the axis ofsaid ring and a plurality of grooves in said shaft parallel to saidridge.

4. An indicating device comprising a shaft and an indicating ringcapable of distortion mounted for rotation about said shaft, a pluralityof indicia successively disposed about said ring, a rigid means adaptedto be gripped by the fingers for manual rotation of the ring attached tothat portion of the ring bearing said indicia for a portion only of thecircumference thereof, at least one ridge on the interior of said ringparallel to the axis thereof and a plurality of grooves in said shaftparallel to said ridge, said ridge being on the interior of that portionof said ring which is not secured to said rigid means.

AUSTIN B, BAR'I'EAUX.

an indicating ring mounted for rotation about

